Rejoice in the First Rain as We Wait for the Latter Rain

UV 1051/10,000 Rejoice as We Wait for the Latter Rain

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Joel 2 v 23

Our very identity as children of Zion or children of God is enough to give us a reason to be always glad. The precious children of Zion, of God are comparable to fine gold and are very valuable in His eyes even though we are earthen pots made from mud by Him. It is the molten gold of faith that makes us precious though we are contained in earthen pots. If we have any idea how big, how good and great, how perfect yet forgiving and loving, gracious and humble, how mighty and powerful God is, that knowledge is enough to cause us to rejoice continually all our living days and beyond. When we keep affirming that God is not just good but great all the time, when things are going good for us , when the going is tough, when we win and when we lose, our hearts and spirits will rejoice in the Lord. Scripture exhorts us to” rejoice in the Lord. Again I say, rejoice.” We rejoice as He has made us in His image. This morning as I meditated I could hear the birds chirp their morning songs. The squirrels also joined their chorus. I guessed they were shouting, “ We are glad we are here. We are thankful to our Creator for making us, for giving us another day. We want to say “ hello” to Him. Just talking to You makes us joyful, gives us a reason to face the hardships of the day. We know He will give us our food and drink and shelter. We know He will protect us from those who are stronger than us.”

We rejoice in praising and worshipping the Lord. We rejoice in making a joyful noise unto the Lord. We rejoice for He has given us the garments of salvation. He has called us to the Lamb’s wedding feast and given us fitting clothes to wear in place of our tattered and torn rags. We rejoice as our confidence is not in flesh and blood but in the Lord. We rejoice as He has made us like the sword of excellence of a mighty man. We rejoice as joyful praise fits the upright by faith like clothes fit a man. We rejoice as though we were regarded barren, we have borne much fruit in our lives. We rejoice because we are declared blessed. We rejoice as we meditate on Him and His Word that is sweeter than honey and finer than gold. We rejoice as we trust in the Lord. We rejoice as He has cancelled the judgements against us and holds no remembrance of our evil deeds. We rejoice as our souls can magnify the Lord infinite though He is. We rejoice as our spirits know Him as God our Saviour, God our righteous, gentle and kind King. We rejoice as He that is mighty is in our midst. We rejoice as we can always dwell in His presence. We rejoice as He gives help and strength. We rejoice as He blesses the work of our hands and He causes us to flourish and gives us abundance of peace. We rejoice as the Lord reigns in our lives and on earth as in heaven.

It is an irony that the same water that can quench our thirst when poured in small proportions, can drown and destroy us when it comes down as a massive downpour. The same flame that can give us light and warmth can destroy us in a huge blaze. This is the reason the Lord gives us moderate rain or blessings in the early days of our relationship. We should never covet the blessings more than we desire a relationship with the Lord. He gives us the first rain or early rain to make us grow and mature in faith, truth and love. As we wait patiently with joy, gladness and thanksgiving for the blessings of the early rain, He is preparing us for a fresh anointing, for the latter rain. The latter rain will surely come in the month when it is due like a child that is born in due time is neither premature nor post maturity. Like Elijah we must see with our spiritual eyes the coming rain even though today the trenches and troughs may be dry. We need to rejoice in the first rain as we wait with faith for the latter rain.

Prateep V Philip